John Fortune
John Fortune (born
John Wood on
June 30,
1939) is a
British satirist,
comedian writer and
actor, best known for his work with
John Bird and
Rory Bremner on the
TV series Bremner, Bird and Fortune.
His early career included contributions to
Peter Cook's
Establishment Club team, which also included John Bird, in 1962. Fortune and Bird also worked together on the TV show
A Series of Birds in 1967. In 1971, with
John Wells, he published the comedy classic
A Melon for Ecstasy, about a man who consummates his love affair with a tree.
In 1982 he appeared in an episode of the
BBC situation comedy Yes, Minister as an army officer who brings the minister's attention to British-made weapons getting into the hands of terrorists.
His work with John Bird is most notable for their series of satirical sketches
The Long Johns, in which one of the Johns interviews the other in the guise of a senior figure such as a politician, businessman or government consultant.
In
1999, Fortune starred with
Warren Mitchell and
Ken Campbell in
'Art' at
Wyndham's Theatre in
London's West End. He has also appeared in the films
Maybe Baby and
Saving Grace, and had a guest part in the sitcom
Joking Apart.*
* http://www.vivienneclore.com/articles/John_187807_28.html
